Farm to Fork:

Universities Find their Farmers

Students care where their food comes from. Increasingly, colleges and universities are investigating ways to connect with local farmers and support sustainable agriculture.




History: More than a decade ago, a small liberal arts college in Central Arkansas pioneered local campus food. At the time, more than 90% of food consumed at Hendrix College came from outside of the state. The local food project aimed at bringing food from nearby farms to the green cafeteria trays of Hendrix students. Though the project faltered in the early 1990s, the goal of bringing local food to students has spread across the country.

Why Eat Locally:

1. Economics: Supporting local family farmers supports your local economy. Dollars spent on local food tend to stay in the region, diversifying and strengthening the local economy.
2. Social Justice and Animal Rights: Knowing where your food comes from and how it is produced is important. You can answer questions about the humane treatment of animals if you know your farmer and his/her methods. You can also ensure that workers are paid living wages and not exposed to toxic chemicals.
3. Food Safety: Large, industrial food processing plants have brought e. coli and salmonella to the table along with fruits, veggies, and meats.
4. Energy: Food travels over 1500 miles to reach most American tables. These "food miles" can be drastically reduced with locally produced food.
5. Yum: Food that is grown for its taste, eaten in season, and picked fresh tastes great. Veggies that are selected for their ability to be shipped and stored aren't very tasty. Go with your palette and eat locally.

Schools Eating Locally:

• The University of Toronto: Partners with a group of farmers to provide food to students that is both local and sustainable.
• The University of Northern Iowa: Has instituted a Buy Local program that brings fresh local food to hospitals, local restaurants, retirement homes, and the school's cafeteria. Thanks to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Northern Iowa is eating closer to home.
• Colgate University: Recently began offering locally produced veggies and beef in the cafeteria. They serve organic food when possible.
• Drake University: Drake's Ag. Law Center, arguably the best foodie law school in the country, is trying to bring a better food policy to a neighborhood near you. Fostering "Food Policy Councils," the university works with a diverse array of folks to make food policy recommendations.

Not all students opt for local food, even when they have the option. Tufts University has two bins of apples: one local, one not. Students often choose the apples from afar, which has slowed the incorporation of local foods into the campus cafeteria. So, if you have the choice: eat locally.